Calls for government to define Islamophobia

A Muslim leader is calling on the government "to do more" to help his congregation feel safe.

Abdul Chaudhuri, chairman of Peterborough's Joint Mosque Council, said hate crimes against members of the community had "significantly increased" and he called on ministers to "adopt a definition of Islamophobia".

It comes as Sarah Jones, the policing and crime minister, visited a city mosque and a gurudwara on Thursday, and offered reassurances that community concerns were being heard.

"We are determined to do everything we can to make sure people are reporting crimes.. that we are tackling that crime and are sending a message that these crimes are completely unacceptable," she said.

In December, Alexander Hooper, 57, of Dogsthorpe Road, was handed a 27-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after he admitting to a religiously and racially aggravated offence at the Darassalaam Mosque.

The court heard he told a classroom of children at the Alma Road mosque that their prophet "was a paedophile" and that "white people will destroy you".

Chaudhuri said the incident caused "great concern and upset", particularly among women and children, calling the situation concerning.

"What we ask the minister is that there is no definition of Islamophobia by the parliament in this country and she should push hard on that," he said.

"Parliament must approve a definition the same way they have done for antisemitism.

"Reporting the hate crime should be made easier. And.. unless there is a proper definition, the police can't take action against them."

Jones said during her visit to the Faizan-e-Madina Mosque in Gladstone Street: "We know that there's been a significant increase in hate crime, particularly against people because of their religion.

"I have been hearing stories of people feeling less safe in the communities, people who are forced to live smaller lives because of their religion and a desire for everybody to work and live together side-by-side.

"We are setting up here a system where people can come and report crimes in the mosque where they might feel a bit more confident to do so."

She also said the government has allocated around £39m to help mosques improve security, such as installing CCTV.

Sukhwinder Singh, secretary of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, said he hoped it would also help develop positive working relations between the city's Sikh community and the government.

He said the community generally felt respected, but raised concerns regarding the safety of Sikh women. He also said St George's flags being put up around the country had made the community feel at edge lately.

"She gave us assurance that action is being taken," he said.

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